starring: Marie Liljedahl and Monica Strömmerstedt
directed by: Joseph Sarno

the plot: After her mother’s death, young Inga (Liljedahl) moves in with her equally sexy aunt Greta (Strömmerstedt). Although Inga is serious and shy, she seems to incite the sexual imagination of every man she meets—a Swedish Lulu combined with Little Annie Fanny. She’s clueless how to react to her aunt’s extremely young boyfriend or to the wealthy, older playboy her aunt decides to set her up with. After exposure to bad company—her aunt’s wanton young girlfriends—Inga throws caution and propriety to the wind, gives in to her desires and becomes a truly despicable young lass.

why it’s good: Along with Ted V. Mikels, Herschell Gordon Lewis, and Ray Dennis Steckler, to name only a few, Joseph Sarno was considered one of the pioneers of the American/European exploitation and sexploitation film scene of the 1960s and ’70s. Until his death in 2010, he was involved in the production of some 75 films. (Famed critic Andrew Sarris once praised his talents.) Sarno, like authors Danielle Steele and Tom Clancy, knew that producing good trash had to be done intelligently and with integrity. His hallmarks were his chiaroscuro lighting, imaginative blocking (rare in most films) and long, Bergman-esque takes. With “Inga,” Sarno was out to show he could create something of value, and he did.

why you should own it: This movie possesses an irresistible retro buzz. Liljedahl is absolutely scrumptious, and the scenes of ghastly rock ’n’ roll parties with LSD sugar cubes are a hoot. Add all the promiscuity, mini-skirts, high boots, nighties and white underwear, and the Sixties come alive with a vengeance. The film, thankfully, does not attempt to be a cautionary tale: Inga is a creep waiting to awaken, and sex and drugs in pristine Sweden are just the ticket to her awakening. The black-and-white photography is gorgeous, and the Retro-Seduction Cinema DVD features a plethora of treats: two trailers, out-takes, and commentary by Sarno, his producer, his assistant director, and film historian Bruce G. Hallenbeck, plus an audio interview with the sex kitten Marie Liljedahl herself.